The Blazers never trailed in the match before recording a 25-22, 25-11, 25-20 victory in the Class 1A semifinals. Clear Spring (15-5) will play for its third state championship in four years on Saturday at noon at Harford Community College against Harford County’s Patterson Mill.

“We knew going into the game that they were going to be a tough team,” South Carroll senior Elaina Murphy said. “I think for the most part our biggest challenge was our serve receive. They had some pretty tough serves and we couldn’t handle it.”

The best set for the Cavs (14-2) was the first. After trailing most of the set, South Carroll rallied from a 21-15 deficit using the service of Morgan Taylor. Taylor served five straight service winners, and Murphy and Jenna Todd contributed kills to go on a 5-0 run to tie the set at 21 apiece. That, in turn, forced a time out by Blazers coach Jessica Custer.

The Blazers looked like a different team after the time out. Clear went on a 4-1 run to close out the set and record a 25-22 win.

South Carroll struggled mightily in the second set. After cutting the deficit to just one at 7-6, Clear Spring’s Ella Wagner went on a serving run of her own, recording five service winners including two aces to extend the lead to 12-6. Even after Cavs coach Kristine Keck called a time out, South Carroll continued its slide. A combination of Cavs mistakes and excellent ball placement lead to South Carroll only recording five more points and dropping the second set 25-11.

“I think our energy fell off in the second set,” senior Gabriella Deyo said. “That ultimately affected our play for the rest of that set. It was a mental thing, and I think that was our biggest challenge today.”

The third set was much closer. After a service error by Clear Spring, the Cavs trailed 20-17 late in the set. Clear Spring then got an ace by Kaisy Custer and kills by Juliet Hodge and two by Olivia Smith to end the set 25-20 and take the match.

The loss ends the career of South Carroll’s Murphy. The senior will leave as one of the greatest players in South Carroll history. She has already been named county Player of the Year by the coaches for three consecutive seasons and should win it again this year.

“I just blessed to have played these four years and stayed healthy and played with these awesome girls,” Murphy said. “It’s been a fun ride.”

Keck was just proud of the effort her team, which is losing seven seniors, showed throughout the year.

“We had an incredible season,” Keck said. “I think these girls preformed to the best of their abilities. The reason they were so successful is that they worked as a team and they trusted each other. That brought us further than maybe their athletic ability indicated it would.”

No. 13 Reservoir falls in Class 3A semifinals

In the Class 3A volleyball semifinals, Washington County’s North Hagerstown (23-0) used 28 kills from Marquette-bound senior Caydence Doolan to defeat No. 13 Reservoir (19-3), 25-19, 15-18, 25-13 at Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick

The Hubs will play Howard/Arundel on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Harford Community College. North Hagerstown will be playing for their fourth consecutive state title.

Doolan was almost a one-person show and kept the Gators off their game all night with her thundering kills.

Reservoir, which has overachieved this season after getting hit hard by graduation, just had no answer for Doolan. North Hagerstown also did a good job of taking advantage of serving errors and unforced errors by Reservoir. The Gators made several runs, and even cut the lead to 20-17 in the first set, but the Hubs were just too much.

In an interesting side note, the last Maryland school to beat North Hagerstown was Reservoir. The Gators did that in the state semifinals in 2021.

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. 

Liberty opened the day by defeating Fallston, 6-1, to claim the Class 1A state title. In Classes 2A and 3A, Manchester Valley and Westminster fell short, marking the heartbreaking conclusion to two impressive seasons.

“This team has worked hard, every practice, every game, and they got better every step of the way,” Manchester Valley coach Jen Etzel said. “I genuinely feel like our season was a huge success. I’m so proud of my girls.”

Etzel began her second stint with the program this season, taking the helm of the defending 2A state champions. Questions lingered heading into the season. Reigning Player of the Year Amanda Herrold led a small group of returners from last season’s championship team, but the newcomers quickly found their footing as the Mavericks won their first five games, extending the program’s winning streak to 23.

“People were wondering how we were going to respond from losing so many players from last season, but we sent a message,” Herrold said. “We made the best of what we had, and we showed those people how much talent we had.”

After a 2-0 loss to Bryn Mawr in September ended the streak, the Mavericks started another winning run, claiming nine straight victories and the Class 2A West Region I championship. Ultimately, Manchester Valley fell to Glenelg, 2-1, in overtime after Lakshmi Almli’s game-winning goal.

The Mavericks finished 2025 with a 15-2 record. With Herrold leaving, she and Etzel reflected on the season with pride and optimism for the program’s future.

“I’m excited to see what this team has in store even though I’ll be gone,” Herrold said. “There’s so much talent.”

Westminster falls again in Class 3A state final

Of the eight teams competing in a state championship, few were performing as well as the Owls entering Saturday’s game.

After giving up the game-winning goal to Manchester Valley in a 2-1 overtime thriller, the Owls went a month without allowing a single goal. Westminster entered Stevenson University on a seven-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 34-0.

That streak ended in double overtime Saturday, when the Owls fell to Linganore, 4-3.

“We came in here feeling good,” Westminster coach Laurie Naill said. “We had a great game plan going in, and they just capitalized on that final opportunity.”

Down in the closing minutes, the Owls showcased the grit that has defined them all season. Brigid McAloan’s goal with under 30 seconds left sent the game into overtime.

“Our grit and determination is what stood out to me about this team,” said Stevie Schultz, who scored her goal in a first quarter dominated by the Owls. “It’s disappointing to come all this way and not win, but I’m grateful for how we pushed through the hard times to get to this point.”

After McAloan’s goal and a scoreless first overtime period, both teams — desperate to claim the 3A crown now that last year’s champion Severna Park was competing in the 4A state title game — battled fiercely.

Linganore, taking advantage of being two players up, scored the winning goal, ending Westminster’s impressive 13-4 campaign.

“It just comes down to the basics,” Naill said.

Now, after two consecutive devastating state championship losses, Naill wiped away tears but remained focused, confident that she has the pieces to turn heartbreak into triumph in 2026.

“We’re starting new, just like we did this year. We said we were going to find a way to get back here, and we did,” Naill said. “Next year, it’s the same mentality: find a way, or make one.”

Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at tdashiell@baltsun.com and x.com/dashielltimothy.

That reason quickly became evident in Saturday’s Class 1A state final against Fallston.

Bolstered by a talent-laden lineup accustomed to playing top competition both in and out of powerful Carroll County, Liberty took command early, scoring three goals in the game’s first 22 minutes and rolling to a 6-1 win at Stevenson University.

“This is why we play the tough teams,” Strohmer said. “Carroll County doesn’t have any turf, so we like to pick up the tough turf games because it only makes them better to get up to this level… It picks apart what we need to work on in practice.”

“I think the higher level of competition really gets us set for states, and gives us confidence going in knowing that we can actually produce,” forward Tessa Becraft added.

And produce they did.

Sophomore Lacey Odachowski scored her first career hat trick to go along with a goal and assist each by Becraft and Tori Schmitz and a pair of assists by freshman Faith Kim, as the 1A top-seeded Lions outshot the No. 3 Cougars 19-4 and drew 15 penalty corners.

The win gave Liberty (16-2) its first state title since 2019 and sixth overall. This one, however, was particularly special for a program that went from just four wins in 2023 to nine last season before truly hitting its stride this fall.

“We’ve improved throughout the season” Faith Kim said. “As we’ve clicked together, we’ve been able to get more dominant wins.”

The Lions’ only losses this year came against Notre Dame Prep, a finalist in the powerful Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference, and Carroll County-foe Manchester Valley, which finished as Class 2A runner-up later Saturday.

The team closed out its season by allowing just two goals over its final 10 games, including a 4-0 win over defending champion Pocomoke in the semifinals.

“Our semifinal game, that was the moment where I felt we clicked and we were all on the same page,” junior midfielder Claire Kim, a Princeton commit, said. “We just carried that momentum over to state finals.”

Liberty controlled this one from the outset, keeping possession with precision give-and-go passing, using their speed to win loose balls and taking a 1-0 lead 7:19 into the game when Schmitz scored from a severe angle on the left side on a ball that appeared to be a cross, but snuck into the corner of the cage.

The Lions then took command in the second quarter with two goals in 47 seconds.

Faith Kim began the first sequence by dribbling the ball up from midfield and sending the ball inside to Becraft, who flicked it back to Odachowski for a shot into a partially empty cage.

Just seconds later, Liberty made it 3-0 when Faith Kim found Becraft for a hard shot 10 yards in front, and the Lions never looked back.

Odachowski, who had scored just six times all season, added a pair of second-half goals to close out a career performance.

“It was just the energy, and really wanting it,” Odachowski said. “It made me really want to keep going.”

Fallston (13-3-1) got its lone goal midway through the fourth quarter from midfielder Olivia Parker.  For a team that had entered the finals on an 11-game winning streak, however, the sledding was tough and the offensive chances few.

“I did my homework… so we knew what we were coming into,” Cougars coach Jackie Cummings said. “We knew they were fast, we knew they had the big ball, we knew they had talented players who shoot shots that we just don’t, so preparing for a team like that is difficult. But I think our team put their best foot forward. I am so incredibly proud of my team, and impressed with how they didn’t give up and didn’t stop.”

“I think we definitely stepped up and did our best,” Fallston midfielder Layla King said. “We’ve changed drastically from the beginning of the season to now. Going into this game, I didn’t care how it ended. I told myself, `Just be proud that we’re here.’”

The loss denied Fallston its first state title since 2012. A perennial contender, the Cougars entered the day with the third most titles (14) in state history, behind only Severna Park (26 entering Saturday’s 4A final) and Pocomoke (22).

On the day, however, Liberty was simply too tall a task.

“These girls played so well together from beginning to end,” said Strohmer, who picked up her 150th career win, “and it just kept getting better and better.”

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Anthony Maluso at amaluso@baltsun.com, 567-230-6024, x.com/TonySunSports and instagram.com/TonySunSports.

Class 1A state final

(at Stevenson University)

Liberty 6, Fallston 1

Goals: F-Parker; L-Odachowski 3, Schmitz, Cole, Becraft. Assists: L-F. Kim 2, Schmitz, Becraft. Saves-F-McCarthy 10; L-Bamo 3. Half: Liberty, 3-0.

For Manchester Valley, Walter Sallee and the Mavericks’ defense made all the key plays.

“It was an amazing defensive effort,” Mavericks coach Bernie Koontz said. “Our defense got put into some tough situations, and they were ready and rose to the occasion.”

After Connor Stack once again broke free for one of his signature long touchdown runs, that was all Koontz and his squad needed as Manchester Valley defeated Bel Air, 7-3, on Friday night to advance to the Class 2A North region second round.

With the Mavericks a spark in the second half while trailing 3-0, Sallee intercepted a pass from Bel Air quarterback Michael Moore — the first big play of the game. Two plays later, Stack took a handoff and exploded through a wide-open hole for the game’s lone touchdown.

“We kept running the same play. Deep down, we knew it was only a matter of time,” said Stack, who rushed for more than 100 yards. “I knew I’d find a seam and get through.”

While everyone waited for the inevitable Stack explosive play, Sallee and the defense held the Bobcats’ offense in check. Robert Hummell set the tone early with a tackle for loss on Bel Air’s opening drive before Sallee made a key stop on the next possession.

When Moore tried to reach the edge on a third-and-goal rush, Sallee fought through two blocks to take him down, forcing the field goal attempt that led to Bel Air’s only points.

Sallee later made what might have been the play of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, Bobcats running back Dylan James took a handoff and sprinted down the middle of the field, seemingly destined for a 90-yard touchdown. But it was No. 11 — Sallee — who chased him down just short of the goal line.

Four plays later, the Mavericks’ defense stood tall again, stuffing Bel Air for a goal line stand. Sallee’s effort did not go unnoticed.

“We don’t win without that play,” one assistant coach said after the game.

The Mavericks certainly don’t win without the overall effort of a defense that held Bel Air to 2-for-9 on third down and 1-for-4 on fourth.

“This defense has always had it in us,” Sallee said. “We had a few hiccups earlier in the season, but when it mattered, we stepped up.”

It was a tough ending for the Bobcats, who lost six straight games to start the season before winning their last three, including a victory over rival C. Milton Wright. As coach Eric Siegel embraced several players after the game, he found solace in his team’s resilience.

“It’s a testament to our character,” Siegel said. “We had some injuries — every team does — but to battle back and win three straight, and even be in a fight with such a good [Manchester Valley] team, I’m proud.”

For the Mavericks, the second round brings familiar territory as they prepare to face the region’s top seed and county foe, Winters Mill. Manchester Valley won the regular-season matchup 16–6 and believes its dominant defensive effort will once again pay dividends.

“It’s game two of the season for us,” Sallee said. “We know they want their get-back from that first matchup, but it’s going to be a fight we’re ready for.”

Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at tdashiell@baltsun.com and x.com/dashielltimothy. 

Everyone’s 0-0 again, with each team getting a fresh opportunity to chase a state championship as the first round of the football playoffs kicks off.

County champion Westminster earned a first-round bye and advances directly to the second round, giving the Owls a chance to sit back and watch as the other Carroll County teams try to join them next week.

One team has already taken care of business — Liberty, who edged Williamsport, 23-21, on Thursday night.

The Lions share a region with two other county foes. South Carroll will travel to Randallstown, a strong Baltimore County program that narrowly missed the state tournament last season, while Century will host Walkersville at 6:30 p.m. The Lions, Knights and Cavaliers all compete in Class 2A/1A West and if the Cavaliers and Knights both win, they will face each other next week.

In Class 2A North, multiple Carroll County teams are also in action. Winters Mill and Manchester Valley both face Harford County opponents, and if they both win, they’ll meet in the second round.

The Falcons, the top seed in the region, will host North Harford, while Walter Sallee and the Mavericks will host Bel Air at 6:30 p.m.

Sallee spoke with the Carroll County Times ahead of tonight’s matchup. Here’s what he had to say — and a look at the rest of the first-round Carroll County playoff games.

Editors note: Questions and answers have been slightly edited for clarity and conciseness 

How has your preparation changed this week knowing it’s the playoffs?

You know you really have to lock in because you know its a big game. Really we’ve picked up the intensity in practice and put our all not just to win this game, but to earn the opportunity to play next week.

How do you personally get yourself locked in before a game?

Pregame, I take a nap first and foremost. Then as I’m driving to school I’m playing music, in the locker room we’re playing more music just to get the vibes up and turn up before the game.

What’s one area the team has really focused on improving this week?

Our mentality, we’ve been focusing on having a clear mind and the drive to win this game.

As one of the leaders, what are you saying to your teammates before kickoff?

I’m honestly just trying to keep them locked in, telling them to keep the energy up, stay calm never get too high or too low regardless if problems arise.

What’s been the best moment this season so far?

Just being with my teammates every day, it’s always great being with a bunch of guys you love and want to hang around with. Also, when I led the county in interceptions.

Sallee and Liberty’s Stephen Puckett finished the regular season tied for the county lead with five interceptions. 

What’s your dream NIL deal or sponsorship if you could pick any brand?

I would say Nike. My favorite athletes are guys like Michael Jordan and Lebron James so it would be really dope to be apart of the Nike family with them.

MPSSAA Football playoffs round one slate

No. 6 Walkersville (5-4)  at No. 3 Century (6-3)

Region: Class 2A/1A West
Last week: Walkersville lost to Middletown, 40-7; Century beat Liberty, 13-8
Prediction: Century 28, Walkersville 21
Outlook: The Knights have been known for their explosive offense, led by the county’s top passer and second-leading receiver. But it’s the Knights’ defense that has impressed down the stretch. Expect that unit to make one final stand to secure the victory.

No. 6 Francis Scott Key (1-8) at No. 3 SEED School (5-4)

Region: Class 1A North
Last week: FSK lost to South Carroll, 23-7; SEED lost to Loyola Blakefield, 40-7
Prediction: SEED 28, FSK 10
Outlook: To say SEED School is battle-tested would be an understatement. The Sabers have faced some of Baltimore County’s best programs along with several MIAA opponents. They should be well prepared for an Eagles team that has lost seven straight games in what has been a tough year for FSK.

No. 7 South Carroll (3-6) at No. 2 Randallstown (6-3)

Region: Class 2A/1A West
Last week: South Carroll defeated FSK, 23-7; Randallstown defeated Franklin, 12-7
Prediction: Randallstown 27, South Carroll 21 (OT)
Outlook: The Battle of the Black and Gold should be a good one as the Cavaliers travel to face a Randallstown team that has put together an impressive 6-3 record in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. A strong Rams defensive line could make things difficult for running backs Anthony Rodrigues and Davy Snyder. This game will take place at 12:30 p.m on Saturday

No. 8 North Harford (2-7)  at No. 1 Winters Mill (6-3)

Region: Class 2A North
Last week: North Harford lost to Edgewood, 48-23; Winters Mill lost to Westminster, 42-0
Prediction: Winters Mill 42, North Harford 6
Outlook: A Winters Mill team whose 6-3 record was capped by a 42-point loss to its archrival might be the last team anyone would want to face in the opening round of the playoffs. Expect the Falcons to let off some steam, get back on track, and trigger a running clock in the second half.

Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at tdashiell@baltsun.com, and x.com/dashielltimothy.

But it’s just what the Mavericks have done all season.

Their Thursday victory resembled many of their other 14 wins prior to this one. Manchester Valley entered the heavyweight bout winners of nine straight. Over that stretch, it has outscored opponents 43-3. And after beating the Mustangs in the 2A state semifinal, the defending state champs are one step closer to making it two in a row.

“It’s very exciting,” coach Jen Etzel said. “The girls have worked so hard this season. We knew the end goal we would want to get there. But we really have played game by game by game. It is obviously the ultimate goal. And it’s always been our vision. So it’s really exciting now that we’re here.”

Sophomore attack Lily Brookhart scored twice in her team’s win. Allyson Zour and Makenna Etzel added the other two goals.

Zour’s score was the game’s first less than three minutes into the opening quarter. Brookhart tallied her first in the second quarter to give Manchester Valley a two-goal halftime lead. Two goals within 90 seconds of each other doubled the Mavericks’ advantage late in the third.

Meanwhile, they held the Mustangs out of the net and hardly let them get close. C. Milton Wright’s lone penalty corner attempt was thwarted and other shots on goal were stopped. The score felt more insurmountable as it widened.

“This year, I’m definitely more prepared,” Brookhart said, a freshman on last year’s championship winning team who will be more of a contributor this time around. “I know what I’m going into. Freshman year, I was definitely really nervous. But it’s all really exciting.”

C. Milton Wright falls short in otherwise dominant season

The Mustangs entered Tuesday on a stretch as similarly impressive as their opponent. C. Milton Wright was a perfect 14-0 before the loss and hadn’t allowed a goal in four games. But even they couldn’t solve Manchester Valley’s stifling defense and timely offense — the Mustangs allowed as many goals Thursday as they had all season prior to their first loss.

“That’s a tough pill to swallow,” coach Kelsey Lovelace said. “We knew we had our work cut out.”

The season marked a remarkable turnaround. C. Milton Wright went 6-7-1 in 2024 and a year later found itself playing for the program’s sixth state semifinal appearance in school history. Graduating 12 seniors but returning their leading scorer, Lovelace knows it’ll be difficult to replicate this season but is hopeful of what it’ll do for the program’s momentum.

“We’re gonna miss a lot of depth next year,” the coach said. “We return a solid core. We’ll just have a lot of holes that we have to plug.”

Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons.

The Cavaliers, who defeated Liberty 3-1 on Sept. 18, are the Class 1A West Region II champions. Coach Andrew Isacco’s team has rattled off nine straight wins since its lone loss of the season, entering Saturday’s matchup with a 14-1 record.

Oddly, the neighboring schools were separated for the postseason. The Lions concurred an abbreviated run to another Class 1A North Region II title after defeating Baltimore City’s National Academy Foundation 9-0 in the regional final. The defending Class 1A state champions have won six of their last seven games and outscored their two postseason opponents 10-0.

Liberty (10-3-1) and South Carroll (14-1) clash in the Class 1A state semifinals at 5 p.m. Saturday at North County.

Isacco and Liberty coach Danielle Prietz spoke with the Carroll County Times ahead of the matchup.

Editor’s note: Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness. 
 
How does it feel to have two Carroll County teams meeting this deep in the playoffs? 

Isacco: It’s unusual for sure. I knew when things got restructured that this was a possibility. I didn’t think it would happen this fast, but now we’re here.

Prietz: It’s pretty cool, when you have the two of us and then another school representing the county in the state tournament (Century), it shows everyone else that Carroll County is right up there with those “powerhouse” counties that consistently have multiple schools at this point.

What stands out to you about the other team and the way they play? 

Isacco: They’re really good at attacking spaces and creating goal scoring opportunities from different parts of the field. They are dynamic and it’s because they are coached and encouraged to be that way.

Prietz: They’re a good, all-around team. They posses the ball well and they have some good set pieces that that like to run.

You faced each other earlier this season. How much does that first matchup matter going into this one — or is it a completely new game now?

Isacco: The stakes are a lot higher now; that first game doesn’t matter so much. We are a young team so we were still finding ourselves back then. I think we play a lot different now.

Prietz: It was a learning opportunity. Now that we have them again, it’s a chance for us to learn from what happened in that first matchup and adjust to come out better for this game.

What’s the biggest change or area of growth you’ve seen in your team since that first meeting? 

Isacco: We’ve matured. I have four freshman and four seniors which is kind of unusual on a varsity team. But we’ve matured and we’re playing confident soccer, we have grown together and found ourselves.

Prietz: We play together more, we’re much better as an overall unit. I only have two starters from last year’s team so it took a lot of building and more opportunity, but now we’re communicating and supporting each other much better.

You’ll be playing on a turf field. How does that affect a team that’s used to playing on grass most of the season?

Isacco: It takes some getting used to, things are much faster on turf. The ball bounces differently so we’ve been working to account for things like that.

Prietz: I know the game is going to be faster, which is an opportunity for us. A lot of the girls play on turf during the club season, so I don’t think it effects them much at all. They’ll be ready.

If you had to describe this team in one word leading into Saturday’s game, what would it be, and why? 

Isacco: “Resilient.” Nothing seems to phase them, no matter what’s going on they seem to have an answer for it and they respond.

Prietz: “Unit.” They’re composed and they play together.

Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at tdashiell@baltsun.com, and x.com/dashielltimothy.

The Owls (13-3) will play Linganore at 3 p.m. Saturday at Stevenson University. The two teams already matched up once this year with Linganore topping Westminster, 3-2 on Oct. 6.

On Wednesday, Stevie Schultz had a pair of goals and assist to lead the Owls, who outshot the Generals 22-10, including 12-4 in the second half.

The game was scoreless after the first quarter despite a pair of shots on goal by Schultz and Towson’s Lilyann Richard that were saved by Towson goalie Cam Lang (15 saves) and Westminster’s Natalie Schultz (six saves).

Generals defender Keeley Hood also had three of her five stops and takeaways of potential scoring threats in the first half.

Westminster solved the Towson defense less than two minutes into the second quarter when Stevie Schultz redirected a ball from Vivian Dunn.

“I think we usually try to look for tips and just executing inside the circle,” Stevie Schultz said. “It was just a deflection off of a long ball.”

The Owls kept the pressure on in the second quarter, but the Generals (9-6) stayed within one at intermission. A shot by Richard early in the second half was saved by Natalie Schultz, the younger sister of Stevie, and the Westminster attack responded with a vengeance.

Natalie Schultz and Richard, both juniors, have already committed to play at Appalachian State and are familiar with each other.

“If we got one, I think it could have been a very different game,” Towson coach Kelsey Saunders said. “It is hard, obviously Lilyann sticks out as a top player and Westminster’s goalie is going to college with Lilyann, so she plays with her, so she knows all her tricks.”

Westminster seized the momentum when Abby Kerner assisted Schultz for a 2-0 lead.

“I think Abby set up a great play and we are always hungry in the circle,” Stevie Schultz said. “I think just putting the last touch on the ball to get it in the cage really pushed our momentum forward and we were able to build off of it going into halftime and the fourth quarter.”

Just 20 seconds after the Owls scored, Richard went out of the game with an ankle injury, and two minutes later the Owls stretched the lead on a goal by Abby Stickles off an assist from Schultz.

“Offensively, Stevie Schultz led the charge once again. Her vision, hustle, and ability to finish under pressure are what make her such a dangerous player,” Westminster coach Laurie Naill said. “But what really stood out was the way our entire offense clicked — Vivian Dunn, Abby Kerner, and Abby Stickles all stepped up and made smart plays that created scoring opportunities. It wasn’t just one person; it was a total team effort.”

Richard returned to the game wearing a brace and limping noticeably, which didn’t surprise her coach.

“Lilyann has been struggling this postseason with some calf tightness, but she has been actually pushing through a lot this postseason,” Saunders said. “She just continues to play, She’s just one of those kids, very strong, very hard-headed, wants to win.”

She led the Generals with 30 goals and was joined by Sarah Parks and Lily Franklin on the All-County team.

Towson won three straight playoff games to reach the state semifinals.

“I think we came to playoffs and just peaked at the right time,” Saunders said. “I don’t think anybody expected us to be here coming in the season with a team of seven varsity players and a brand new head coach. The odds were definitely stacked against us, but we wanted this. We wanted to be here, the only team Baltimore County left, so it meant a lot to us to make it this far.”

Westminster’s seventh straight shutout was sparked by a defense that started Reagan Duffy, Kylah Nowosielski and Reese Sholkoff.

“Our defense was amazing tonight,” Naill said. “They played with discipline and communicated from start to finish. Towson had some strong offensive looks, but our back line stayed composed and shut everything down. Natalie Schultz made saves at huge moments and set the tone for our confidence defensively.”

Schultz’s biggest fan is her older sister, who will play at Towson University next season and she is looking forward to one last chance to play with her sister on the grandest stage.

“It’s just like a great opportunity,” Stevie said. “She’s going to [Appalachian] and I’m going to Towson and I just have to cherish every moment I have with her and I have one guaranteed game with her, so I think putting it all out there and trying to win it you know and just executing.”

Her coach stressed everyone trusting each other and they delivered.

“Tonight, I talked about trusting each other, playing for each other, outworking everyone on the field, and having one common goal — to get back to states,” Niall said “We have a saying, ‘Find a way or make one,’ and that’s exactly what we did tonight.”

Have a news tip? Contact Craig Clary at cclary@baltsun.com and x.com/ClaryCraig.

Several teams remain in contention as regional champions have been crowned and state semifinals are set for this week in soccer and field hockey.

Carroll County has performed well so far, producing three regional champions in both girls soccer and field hockey. In volleyball, two county teams will compete for regional titles this week, while in boys soccer, Liberty’s Class 1A state championship title defense is off to a strong start.

Here’s a look at every Carroll County soccer, volleyball and field hockey team still alive in the playoffs:

Liberty boys soccer

Next game: Class 1A state semifinals vs. Allegany, 2:30 p.m. Saturday at North County

After tying Westminster and dropping two of their last three regular-season games, the Lions have caught fire, winning five straight — including the Class 1A North Region II championship. During the regional playoffs, coach Donnie Kwedar’s squad outscored opponents 18-0 and hasn’t allowed a single goal all postseason.

Century girls soccer

Next game: Class 2A state semifinals vs. McDonough, 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Laurel

After capturing the county title for the seventh straight year, the Knights carried that dominance into the postseason. They needed penalty kicks to get past Middletown in the regional semifinals, then earned a shutout over Walkersville to win the Class 2A West Region I championship. The Knights’ defense has posted seven shutouts between the regular season and playoffs.

South Carroll girls soccer

Next game: Class 1A state semifinals vs. Liberty, 5 p.m. Saturday at North County

Coach Andrew Isacco’s team has been rolling since opening the season with five straight wins. After a 1-0 loss to Century — their only defeat of the year — the Cavaliers embarked on a nine-game winning streak, capped by a 5-0 rout of Brunswick in the Class 1A West Region II championship. Up next: a rematch with Liberty, a team the Cavaliers beat 3-1 in September.

Liberty girls soccer

Next game: Class 1A state semifinals vs. South Carroll, 5 p.m. Saturday at North County

The defending Class 1A state champions will have to get through a familiar county foe to retain their title. The Lions, Class 1A North Region II champions, are on an impressive postseason run of their own. Leading scorer Madison Jackson (14 goals) has powered the offense as Liberty has won six of its last seven games.

Liberty field hockey

Next game: Class 1A state semifinals vs. Pocomoke, 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Crofton

If girls soccer coach Dani Prietz and her team need any extra motivation for a playoff matchup with the Cavaliers, they can look no further than their own field hockey team. Those Lions defeated South Carroll 4-1 to claim the Class 1A West Region I title, then cruised past Kent Island 10-0 to extend their winning streak to seven games. With their only blemish a 1-0 loss to Manchester Valley in September, Liberty stands at 14-1 this season.

Manchester Valley field hockey

Next game: Class 2A state semifinals vs. C. Milton Wright, 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Glen Burnie

New coach, same expectations for a Mavericks program that has made deep playoff runs an annual tradition. The defending Class 2A state champions are just two wins away from repeating, thanks to a balanced “pick-your-poison” lineup. Amanda Herrold scored the lone goal in the state quarterfinals, while four different Mavericks found the net in the 2A West Region I final.

Westminster field hockey

Next game: Class 3A state semifinals vs Towson, 7:30 p.m Wednesday at Glenn Burnie

After reaching the state final last season, the Owls are primed to return to the big game and this time, finish the job. After a  9-3 regular season, the Owls are on a six game winning streak during which, they have yet to surrender a goal.

Liberty volleyball

Next game: Class 1A North Region II final vs. Edmondson-Westside, 5 p.m. Wednesday

An up-and-down season has the Lions peaking at the right time. After losing their first three matches, Liberty has won four straight and sits one victory away from a trip to the state tournament.

South Carroll volleyball

Next game: Class 1A West Region II final vs. Smithsburg, 6 p.m. Wednesday

After clinching another county title and finishing the regular season 14-1, the Cavaliers are in position for another state tournament appearance. First, coach Kristine Keck’s squad must get past Smithsburg — the team that swept them in the season opener. Since that loss, South Carroll has rattled off 14 straight wins.

Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at tdashiell@baltsun.com, and x.com/dashielltimothy.

Team of the Week

Manchester Valley golf

The Mavericks had the best day in program history Wednesday in the final round of the Class 2A/1A state golf championship. After Day 1, three shots separated the top three teams, with the Mavericks one shot behind River Hill and two ahead of Hereford. But on Day 2, three of the four golfers broke 75 as Manchester Valley pulled away, finishing with a two-day total of 632, 15 shots ahead of River Hill.

Freshman Braydon Brawner backed up his opening round 77 with a 74 and a two-day total of 151, tying for third place overall. Jackson Streett had rounds of 79 and 74 to finish sixth with a 153. After an 84 to open the tournament, Michael Hoy came back with a 75 and finished tied for 13th.

Honorable mentions

Liberty cross country: Both the Lions’ boys and girls teams won the Class 1A North Region championship at Herring Run Park on Thursday. The boys bested Francis Scott Key by 10 points, 35-45, while the girls dominated, fielding six of the top seven runners and totaling seven points. Ava Snyder’s first place in 20 minutes, 46.94 seconds highlighted the day.

Westminster field hockey: The returning 3A state finalist Owls took the next step toward finishing the job this year by earning a spot in the state semifinals. They bested Damascus, 2-0, in Tuesday’s 3A North Region II final, then blanked Chopticon, 6-0, in the quarterfinals. They will face Towson at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Glen Burnie.

Manchester Valley field hockey: The Mavericks are two games away from repeating as 2A state champions. On Tuesday, they beat Walkersville, 9-1, in the 2A West Region I final, and Friday, they edged Queen Anne’s, 1-0, in the quarterfinals. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, they will play C. Milton Wright at Glen Burnie.

Liberty field hockey: The Lions are the third Carroll County team in the state semifinals. They bested county rival South Carroll, 4-1, in the 1A West Region I final. They went on to dominate Kent County, 10-0, in Friday’s state quarterfinal. Next up is Pocomoke in the state semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Crofton.

Liberty boys soccer: The defending 1A state champion Lions are still alive in their quest for a repeat. After a 3-0 win over National Academy Foundation in the 1A North Region II final, they Lions knocked off Patterson Mill, 2-0, in Friday’s quarterfinal. They will face Allegany in the state semifinals at a day and time to be announced.

Century girls soccer: The Knights are trying to win their first state championship since 2022 and have earned their spot in the 2A semifinals. Last week they edged Walkersville, 1-0, on Tuesday in the 2A West Region I final. On Saturday, they beat Fallston, 2-0, in the state quarterfinals. They next face McDonough at a day and time to be announced in the semifinals.

South Carroll girls soccer: The Cavaliers had a complete-team effort to beat Brunswick, 5-0, in Tuesday’s 1A West Region II final, then blew out Lackey, 8-0, in Friday’s quarterfinal. They have only given up seven goals this seasons as they head into the state semifinals, trying to return to the state final for the first time since 2022.

Liberty girls soccer: The reigning queens of 1A are still alive in search of a second straight title. They cruised to a 9-0 win in the 1A North Region II final over National Academy Foundation, then survived a thrilling 1-0 win over Mardela in the quarterfinals. It sets up a state semifinal match against South Carroll at a day and time to be announced. The Cavaliers beat the Lions, 3-1, on Sept. 18.

5-star players

Thomas Sewell, Century, boys cross country: Sewell won the 2A West Region championship Thursday at River Hill High. He finished the 5K course in 16:25.6. Sewell shaved 53 seconds off his time from the previous week’s Carroll County championships, where he finished second, and beat out Hammond’s Trevor Miyagishima, the Howard County champion, by six seconds.

Lily Brookhart, Manchester Valley, field hockey: In the Mavericks’ three postseason games, Brookhart has totaled seven goals and two assists. One of the assists came on Amanda Herrold’s goal in the third quarter Friday against Queen Anne’s, the only goal in the Mavericks’ 1-0 quarterfinal win.

Jaxon Vanderhoof, Liberty, boys soccer: Vanderhoof has been a crucial piece of the Lions’ march toward a second straight state championship. He hasn’t allowed a goal yet in the postseason. He had 11 saves through Liberty’s first three playoff games, before recording an outstanding 18 saves in a quarterfinal win over Patterson Mill. He has 114 saves this season against only 12 goals allowed.

Cassie Plitt, Century, girls soccer: Plitt was the difference in the Knights’ 1-0 regional championship win over Walkersville. In the first half of a scoreless game, Plitt took a free kick for Century from 30 yards out. She placed in perfectly inside the far post in the upper half of the net. It stood as the only goal in the Knights’ title win.

Maddie Jackson, Liberty, girls soccer: Jackson has had a breakthrough this season for the Lions as the team’s leading scorer. No goal, though, may have been more important than her 14th of the season. It was the only score in Liberty’s 1-0 win Saturday over Mardela, a rematch of last year’s 1A state final.

Have a news tip? Contact Anthony Maluso at amaluso@baltsun.com, 567-230-6024, x.com/TonySunSports and instagram.com/TonySunSports.